In a truly surprising fashion, Google gave the LG-made Nexus 4 smartphone a massive discount. The device is currently priced in the Google Play Store at a sweet $199 for the 8GB version, and $249 for a handset with 16GB of on-board memory.

The abovementioned price tags will get you a brand new, contract-free Nexus 4. This is quite an aggressive move by Google, as most top-shelf smartphones in the United States are price in the $200 range with a contract.

Furthermore, the LG Nexus 4 has received at least a 25% discount in a handful of other markets. They include Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea, and the UK.

The Nexus 4 was already quite a bargain at its original $299 starring price. We suspect that the available quantities won't last long, so if you are on the market for a top-end Android smartphone on a budget, now is a good time to act.